Saints’ brave battle seems all over
Last updated 11:22, Tuesday, 01 April 2008
ST BENEDICT’S battle to stay in North Lancs Cumbria looks to be over after an 18-0 defeat at De La Salle.
That enabled the Salford side to leapfrog the west Cumbrians who are some three points off safety with just three games left.
Two of those are away to Oldham and Rossendale and the only one left at Mirehouse is against Wigton.
Club stalwart Ian McQuire said: “I think that’s just about it now and we had no complaints. They were the better team on the day and deserved the win.
“But from our point of view we took nine players who are 21 or under, and they included two 17-year-olds. It might not be the best place to go with a young side but these lads have no fear and it was a good learning curve for them.
“If we can re-group in the Cumbria League and keep these youngsters we can be like Workington and come back stronger.”
The Saints made a slow start and were soon in arrears to a penalty, and in the first half on a very heavy pitch had to face the wind and rain.
De La Salle capitalised by running in three tries – two of them off St. Benedict’s mistakes. Wayne Laverick thought he had reduced the arrears just before half-time but was brought back for an earlier offence.
In the second-half Saints had more of the game and were close on several occasions through Stuart Wilson, John Connery and Kurt Maudling but just couldn’t get the ball down.
Number eight Wilson had an outstanding game while new second-row Martin McMullen, playing his first game for the club, showed a lot of promise.
Wigton had lost to Kirkby Lonsdale on two occasions, in the League and the County Cup, so they were delighted to win the return North Lancs Cumbria game at Lowmoor Road 16-7.
Coach Malcolm Brown said: “All three games have been very close but the fact that we had to make six changes from the side which lost there in the Cup, and we came through to win, emphasises the strength in the squad at this stage of the season.”
Wigton had the wind and rain behind them in the first-half and there was just a little concern at half-time that they only led 6-0 at the break.
Paul Branthwaite had kicked two penalties but Wigton had gone close to adding to their advantage on several occasions.
Tom Gardner just couldn’t get the ball down in the corner; Robert Marrs and Mark Thompson were both held-up over the line and Sean Stephens was hauled down inches short.
Even against the wind in the second-half Wigton had the better of things and it was against the run of play when Kirkby Lonsdale broke out to score a converted try and lead 7-6.
Midway through the half Wigton regained the lead when centre Stuart Dixon broke the line and raced 40 metres for a very good try which Branthwaite converted.
Wigton continued to have the better of things and a Branthwaite penalty gave them an extra cushion which they held onto comfortably.
If Wigton win their game in hand next Saturday at Upper Eden they will move ahead of Kirkby Lonsdale and Workington into third place.
Workington are a point better-off than Wigton and a point behind Kirkby Lonsdale after their 17-0 home win over Fleetwood at the Ellis Sports Ground.
Fleetwood had the benefit of a strong wind in the first-half but didn’t really impose themselves on the home side.
When they did make inroads the Zebras tackled extremely well and also were able to put together the more dangerous attacking options.
Mark Hunton was tackled just short but the winger was on hand to take a popped pass after a break by Kevin Harper and finish-off with the only try of the first-half.
Like Workington, the visitors also played well against the wind and were spirited opponents.
The Zebras had to show a lot of commitment in defence to hold their lead.
Gradually, however, the home forwards began to turn the screw when they got a foothold in Fleetwood territory.
In the final quarter of the game good, solid play by the Workington pack enabled them to get in for two tries, both from close range by David Bowe and Carl Metherell. Harper was able to convert one of them.
